Toughest Kid I Knew

When we were kids there was always that toughest kid in class. You know, the one no one would mess with. Then there was always the toughest kid in the school. He was really bad. Who was your toughest kid in the class? In the school? Well, for me the toughest kid in my class and then by the time he was in the seventh grade the toughest in the entire school was Larry Martin-Paulen. He didn’t really have a hyphenated name. His last name was Martin when I knew him. That was between 5th and 8th grades at Pleasant Valley Grade School just outside of Peoria, IL. Larry’s biological father was Paulen but his step dad had adopted him and his name was changed to Martin. Now it just so happened that Larry was my best friend during those years and we hung out together with our brothers all the time. We had some great times.

Now Larry had two brothers, an older one named Jerry and a younger named Terry. Yep, Jerry, Larry, and Terry. Jerry had wild eyes that moved side to side quickly and he had trouble saying his r’s. He could be a little moody but was fun to hang out with. Terry was a cheerful little guy that couldn’t say his r’s or l’s. He hung out with my little brother a lot. They were full of mischief. But Larry, he spoke well, had a great voice, good looks, smart,and was just plain tough. The step dad was tough on the boys, they had to do a lot of work. Now, I’m not saying work was bad but there were some days that Larry and his brothers worked all day. And they worked hard. I can still picture Larry hanging over the fender of his step dad’s truck working on the engine. When I’d show up he’d give me that big smile with grease all over his face and hands. He wasn’t able to “come out and play” and his step dad would just give that scowl when he came out to the garage.

What made Larry so tough? Well, throughout the next few months and coming year I’m going to tell some stories about Larry, his brothers, and me and my brother. It’s too much to explain now, in one short blog. And besides, I love telling stories.
Chiefpigskin.com

Twelve Mighty Orphans

I love reading. Heck, I’ve always loved reading. I remember when I was in elementary school as early as first and second grade and getting my school work done as quickly as I could so I could go to the back of the classroom and get a book to read. All of my classrooms had a little library in back full of books appropriate for our age level. I read every book a little boy could be interested in. So, I decided I would do a book review or two now and then.

A book that I read a few years ago and really liked is called Twelve Mighty Orphans by Jim Dent, the same man who authored The Junction Boys. Dent tells the Depression-era true story of the mighty orphans from the Masonic Home in Fort Worth, Texas. The scrawny orphan football team captured the hearts and minds of Americans as they beat all odds succeeding at the game of football as well as the game of life.

More than a century ago, a school was constructed in Fort Worth, Texas, for the purpose of housing and educating the orphans of Texas Freemasons. But a lean, bespectacled coach by the name of Rusty Russell showed up and changed everything. Russell looked more like a librarian than a football coach but as one reader put it “here was a man who could bring rain in the midst of a drought”. There are no diagrams of the offense or defense this team ran but it sounds like Russell was the father of the spread offense way back in the 1930’s. They were the scrawny kids from a tiny orphanage who wore scarred helmets and faded jerseys that did not match, kids coached by a devoted man who lived on peanuts and drove them around in a smoke-belching old truck. If you want to read an inspiring football story about maybe the toughest group of kids that ever played the game, then this book is for you. You will shake your head in amazement sometimes.

I highly recommend this book. Visit chiefpigskin.com for more high school and college football stories and videos.

Raising My Kids Differently

My four kids are all grown up now with families of their own. All four got their college degrees, married great spouses, and have children of their own. They are all teachers, coaches, active in their communities, churches, and are great parents. “Wow!” you must be thinking, “this guy and his wife must’ve done a wonderful job raising their kids!” I wish we could take some credit but the truth is the Lord intervened and covered for some of our serious mistakes. My wife and I look back now and just shake our heads in disbelief. “What were we thinking?” In our weak defense, we did marry very young. In fact, we were both teenagers. That was really not that uncommon back in the day. Neither of us had any kind of child rearing training, we just did what our parents did. But for the benefit of those of you that have young children or thinking of having children, here’s what I would do different if you care to listen.

• No spanking. Now we didn’t really spank that much, although our kids might disagree, but I think I would stick to other forms of discipline.
• Not take my anger of someone else out on my children.
• Not be quite as strict and serious.
• No sarcasm. Geez, I was bad at that.
• No husband – wife fighting in front of the kids. This was probably our worst mistake.
• Tell my wife I love her more in front of the kids.
• Give my wife a good hug and kiss more in front of the kids. (Show that I love their mother).
• Tell my kids more often I love them.
• Praise more, much more.
• More family vacations.
• Everyday encourage each of my children to tell me the best and worst part of their day. (communication)
There are more, but that’ll do for now.

Things I would not change or do differently.
• Love them fiercely.
• Take them to church every Sunday. (unless we were going to a Cardinal game)
• Talk openly and often about God, the Bible, and Jesus.
• Encourage them to play sports.
• Emphasize excellent attendance in school.
• Set high academic and social expectations.

Well, I wish I could do it over again but I can’t. I know I gave my kids some emotional bruises that will stick with them and I regret that. But it’s never too late to improve and be a better grandparent, right?
Chiefpigskin.com

Pro Bowl Suspended

It's been at least 10 years since I watched a Pro bowl game. So the only thing that surprised me when the announcement was made that commissioner Roger Goodell had suspended the game was why it took so long to take this action. I probably know the answer. TV money. That game lost its shine years ago.

By the time you get to that time of year players are beat up, tired, and don't want to get injured playing a meaningless game. The only All-Star game worth watching now is the major league baseball All-Star game. They play pretty hard, but it's a much different game, of course. And the NBA All-Star game? A joke. It's become a no defense dunking contest and I've seen enough dunks. I'd rather watch the Globetrotters.

I remember a young defensive linemen with the Bears back in the 70’s. His name was Wally Chambers and he along with Dan Hampton were destined to become pro bowlers and Hall of Famers. Chambers was the Bears first round pick and eighth overall in the draft. Hampton went on to greatness. But what about Chambers? I'm telling you, this young player was really good, maybe better than Hampton. He was rookie of the year and played in three or four straight Pro Bowls then tore his knee up in the Pro bowl as a young player and never was the same player again. No wonder guys don't play hard in the Pro bowl.

I saw the highlights of the game this year as the AFC defeated the NFC 59 to 41. It looked like a two hand touch game and now it's been suspended. About time.